Written Answers Thursday 23 October 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to introduce a payment for deer farmers similar to the single farm payment to give them parity with sheep and cattle farmers.

Richard Lochhead: It is essential that any scheme we devise to support Scottish deer farmers is affordable, fair, sustainable and legally sound. We are therefore assessing the scale of the issue and looking at a variety of ways in which it might be possible to provide support, either through existing single farm payment legislation or through options that may come out of the CAP Health Check. I aim to reach a conclusion as soon as practicable.

Forestry

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why Forestry Commission Scotland has changed its annual scavenging permit to quarterly and has increased the price in the Highlands by over 100%.

Richard Lochhead: Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) engages in firewood sales on a local basis. Firewood is either made available at the side of the forest road or a scavenging permit is issued. This allows the holder to enter the forest and remove as much wood as they can reclaim from an agreed area.

  The administration involved in generating scavenging permissions is significant, involving both the production of a permission (a form of contract) and associated maps. In addition, staff must meet with potential permit holders on site, in order to ensure all relevant health and safety legislation is being complied with.

  A recent review noted that the length and cost of scavenging permits was not consistent across the country. In addition, the combination of increased administrative requirements and the associated health and safety risks has meant some districts do not offer scavenging permits for firewood.

  Where scavenging is allowed, permits have been standardised at a level which allows cost recovery, whilst still offering the purchaser a substantial saving over commercial rates currently being charged for firewood. Setting the length of the permits to three months was thought to be most appropriate, as it allows flexibility for the purchaser and ensures that the cost outlay, per permit, is not prohibitive.

  The new rates effective from August 2008 are:

  £50.00 for three months including Vat for scavenging permit;

  £20 per tonne for softwood firewood at roadside including VAT, and

  £35 per tonne for hardwood firewood at roadside including VAT.

Rural Development

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how new entrants access the new entrants scheme for farmers.

Richard Lochhead: New entrants apply for this support as part of the Rural Development Contacts - Rural Priorities scheme under the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

  Applications are made online and applicants must first of all of all obtain a business reference number (BRN) and a government gateway password to be able to access the application system.

  Rural priorities has a two stage application process. The first stage, statement of intent, requires applicants to provide an initial outline of their project/application, at which point they will be assigned a case officer who will provide them with feedback on how to take their project forward.

  The second, proposal, stage requires applicants to provide more details about the business and how the funding will be used, along with supporting documentation such as a business plan and proof of status as a new entrant.

  Full guidance about the scheme, including details of eligibility criteria and how to apply, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp.

Rural Development

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance can be funded through the new entrants scheme for farmers.

Richard Lochhead: Funding for new entrants is available under the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities scheme – part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Under this scheme, there is a specific option aimed at helping young farmers who are starting a farming business for the first time to develop the business in the critical early stages. It provides interest rate relief of up to £27,397 on a commercial business development loan.

  This may be used to fund, for example:

  the purchase of equipment or machinery;

  the construction or development of buildings and infrastructure, and

  the provision of working capital.

  This can be for the core agricultural business or for a diversification opportunity. The support cannot be used in relation to a loan for the purchase of land or livestock.

  New entrants are also eligible to apply for many of the other options available under the rural priorities scheme, a number of which offer a 10% premium on grant levels for new entrants.

  Full details on the rural priorities scheme, including funding for new entrants, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp.

Scottish Government Funding

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital investment projects have been given initial project approval since May 2007.

John Swinney: Information on significant infrastructure project milestone events, including Outline Business Case approval, since May 2007 is provided in the following tables:

  Project announcements made by ministers since May 2007:

  

 Project
Capital Value
(£ Million)
 Date


 Forth Replacement Crossing 
 3,200-4,200
 December 2007


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - Southern General Hospital 
 842
 April 2008


 Borders Railway NPD
 235-295
 March 2008


 Moray Council Flood Prevention Scheme for Rothes
 21
 February 2008


 Ravenscraig Sports Complex
 29
 October 2007


 Broxburn Flood Prevention Scheme
 5
 September 2007


 HMP Bishopbriggs
 100
 October 2007


 HMP Grampian
 100
 October 2007


 Grampian Emergency Care Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
 95
 July 2008 


 Forres flood prevention scheme
 14
 November 2007 



  Projects which have been given approval since May 2007 to be taken forward:

  

 Project
Capital Value
(£ Million)
 Date


 Inverclyde Schools PPP
 80
 June 2007


 Moray Schools NPD
 50
 June 2007


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Schools NPD
 52
 June 2007


 Orkney Islands Schools NPD
 50
 September 2007


 NHS Tayside - Mental Health Development NPD
 100
 August 2007


 Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement 
 500-1,050
 September 2007


 A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route NPD
 100-500
 June 2007 


 M74 Raith Interchange NPD
 20-100
 June 2007


 M8 Baillieston to Newhouse NPD
 100-500
 June 2007


 M8 Associated Network Improvements NPD
 20-100
 June 2007



  Projects where contract signature has been approved since May 2007:

  

 Project
Capital Value
(£ Million)
 Date


 NHS Forth Valley - Clackmannanshire Community Health Services Project PPP
 20
 July 2007


 NHS Forth Valley - Forth Valley Acute Hospital Project PPP
 330
 May 2007


 NHS Fife - St Andrews Community Hospital and Resource Centre PPP
 32
 November 2007


 East Dunbartonshire Schools PPP
 134
 August 2007


 West Lothian Schools PPP2 
 62
 August 2007


 Aberdeen City Schools NPD
 110
 December 2007


 Falkirk Schools PPP2 NPD
 116
 May 2007


 Perth and Kinross Schools PPP
 136
 October 2007


 Dumfries and Galloway Schools PPP
 108
 January 2008


 West Dunbartonshire Schools PPP
 107
 January 2008


 A7 Auchenrivock Improvement 
 7
 November 2007 


 A77 Haggstone Climbing Lane and Glen App Improvement 
 20
 September 2007


 The State Hospital
 85
 October 2007


 M74 Completion
 445
 February 2008


 Royal Botanical Gardens Gateway Visitor Centre
 16
 August 2007

Scottish Government Funding

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital investment projects were given initial project approval in each year from 1999-2000 to 2006-07.

John Swinney: Information on PFI and NPD infrastructure investment projects where an Outline Business Case had been approved from 1999-00 to 2006-07 is provided in the following table.

  This information has been largely taken from a database that covers projects where the Scottish Government is providing all or part funding. Information on Outline Business Case approval relating to projects for past years undertaken using a procurement method other than PFI or NPD is not held centrally.

  

 Year
 Project


 1999-2000
 NHS Argyll and Clyde - Replacement of Mid-Argyll Community Hospital 


 1999-2000
 NHS Greater Glasgow - Stobhill Local Forensic Psychiatric Unit 


 2000-01
 NHS Highland - Easter Ross County Community Hospital 


 2000-01
 Visitscotland.com 


 2000-01
 SCRO Part V Disclosure Service 


 2000-01
 NHS Lanarkshire - Patient Management System 


 2001-02
 Fife Schools - Expanding Horizons New Community Schools 


 2001-02
 Renfrewshire Schools 


 2001-02
 Aberdeenshire Schools Project 


 2001-02
 NHS Greater Glasgow - Gartnavel Royal Psychiatric Hospital 


 2001-02
 NHS Lanarkshire - Stonehouse Hospital 


 2002-03
 East Renfrewshire Schools 


 2002-03
 Argyll and Bute Schools 


 2002-03
 NHS Ayrshire and Arran - Provision of New Maternity Unit, Crosshouse Hospital 


 2002-03
 NHS Greater Glasgow - Ambulatory Care at Stobhill/New Victoria and Stobhill Hospitals 


 2002-03
 Aberdeen City Schools 


 2002-03
 Stirling Schools 


 2002-03
 Highland Schools 


 2002-03
 North Lanarkshire Schools 


 2002-03
 Angus Schools 


 2002-03
 Clackmannanshire Schools 


 2002-03
 City of Edinburgh Council : Investing In Education 


 2002-03
 South Lanarkshire Schools 


 2002-03
 Dundee City Schools 


 2003-04
 North Ayrshire Partnership for Schools 


 2003-04
 NHS Forth Valley - Forth Valley Acute Hospital Project 


 2003-04
 NHS Forth Valley - Clackmannanshire Community Health Services Project 


 2003-04
 Perth and Kinross Schools 


 2003-04
 Addiewell Prison 


 2003-04
 Falkirk Schools 


 2003-04
 West Dunbartonshire Schools 


 2003-04
 East Ayrshire Schools 


 2003-04
 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Schools (Original OBC)


 2003-04
 Moray Schools (Original OBC)


 2003-04
 NHS Fife General Hospitals and Maternity Services Project Stage 1 - New Build Extension 


 2003-04
 South Ayrshire Schools


 2004-05
 Midlothian Schools 


 2004-05
 East Dunbartonshire Schools 


 2004-05
 Scottish Borders Schools 


 2004-05
 Inverclyde Schools 


 2004-05
 NHS Fife - St Andrews Community Hospital and Resource Centre 


 2005-06
 West Lothian Schools 


 2005-06
 Dumfries and Galloway Smarter Schools 


 2006-07
 M80 Stepps to Haggs 


 2006-07
 NHS Tayside - Mental Health Development 


 2006-07
 Orkney Islands Schools 


 2006-07
 NHS Lothian - Midlothian Community Hospital

Scottish Government Funding

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the following projects were (a) commissioned, (b) given initial project approval, (c) first publicly announced and (d) awarded contracts and which were contained in the previous administration’s Infrastructure Investment Plan: (1) NHS Forth Valley – Clackmannanshire Community Health Services Project, (2) NHS Forth Valley – Forth Valley Acute Hospital Project, (3) NHS Fife – St Andrews Community Hospital and Resource Centre, (4) East Dunbartonshire Schools, (5) West Lothian Schools, (6) Aberdeen City Schools, (7) Falkirk Schools, (8) Perth and Kinross Schools, (9) Dumfries and Galloway Smarter Schools, (10) West Dunbartonshire Schools, (11) A7 Auchenrivock Improvement, (12) A77 Haggstone Climbing Lane and Glen App Improvement, (13) The State Hospital, (14) Forth Crossing replacement, (15) Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, (16) Borders Railway, (17) M74 Completion, (18) Moray Council Flood Prevention Scheme for Rothes, (19) Ravenscraig Sports Complex, (20) Broxburn Flood Prevention Scheme, (21) HM Prison Bishopbriggs, (22) HM Prison Grampian, (23) Royal Botanical Gardens Gateway Visitor Centre, (24) Moray Schools, (25) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Schools, (26) Orkney Islands Schools, (27) NHS Tayside – Mental Health Development, (28) Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement, (29) A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, (30) M74 Raith Interchange, (31) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse and (32) M8 Associated Network Improvements.

John Swinney: Information on the relevant approval stages for the requested projects is provided in the following table. The Government has published the Infrastructure Investment Plan that sets out projects for development totalling £35 billion over 10 years.

  Project Details

  

 Project Name
 Date Outline Business Case (OBC) Approved
 Date published in Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)
 Date Project Publicly Announced
 Date of Financial Close / Contract Signed
 Project Contained in 2005 Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP)


 NHS Forth Valley - Clackmannanshire Community Health Services Project PPP
 May 2003
 August 2004
 May 2003
 July 2007
 Yes


 NHS Forth Valley - Forth Valley Acute Hospital Project PPP
 December 2003
 December 2004
 December 2003
 May 2007
 Yes


 NHS Fife - St Andrews Community Hospital and Resource Centre PPP
 August 2004
 January 2006
 August 2004
 November 2007
 Yes


 East Dunbartonshire Schools PPP
 August 2004
 April 2005
 Not held centrally1
 August 2007
 Yes


 West Lothian Schools PPP2 
 February 2006
 March 2006
 Not held centrally1
 August 2007
 Yes


 Aberdeen City Schools NPD
 December 2002
 April 2004
 Not held centrally1
 December 2007
 Yes


 Falkirk Schools PPP2 NPD
 February 2004
 March 2005
 Not held centrally1
 May 2007
 Yes


 Perth & Kinross Schools PPP
 September 2003
 December 2003
 Not held centrally1
 October 2007
 Yes


 Dumfries & Galloway Schools PPP
 September 2005
 January 2006
 Not held centrally1
 January 2008
 Yes


 West Dunbartonshire Schools PPP
 March 2004
 December 2005
 Not held centrally1
 January 2008
 Yes


 A7 Auchenrivock Improvement 
 November 2005
 February 2007
 March 2003
 November 2007
 No


 A77 Haggstone Climbing Lane and Glen App Improvement 
 September 20042
 September 2006
 May 2004
 September 2007
 No


 The State Hospital
 June 2006
 August 2006
 June 2006
 October 2007
 Yes


 Forth Replacement Crossing 
 n/a
 n/a
 February 2007 (original), December 2007 (updated)
 n/a
 No


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - Southern General Hospital 
 April 2008
 n/a
 April 2008
 n/a
 No


 Borders Railway NPD
 n/a
 n/a
 July 2006 (original), March 2008 (updated)
 n/a
 Yes


 M74 Completion
 September 2000 3
 August 2006
 June 2006 (original), February 2008 (updated)
 March 2008
 Yes


 Moray Council Flood Prevention Scheme for Rothes
 Not held centrally1
 Not held centrally1
 February 2008
 n/a
 No


 Ravenscraig Sports Complex
 Not held centrally1
 Not held centrally1
 October 2007
 n/a
 Yes


 Broxburn Flood Prevention Scheme 
 Not held centrally1
 Not held centrally1
 September 2007
 n/a
 No


 HM Prison Bishopbriggs
 November 2007
 April 2008
 January 2007 (original), October 2007 (updated)
 n/a
 Yes


 HM Prison Grampian
 n/a
 n/a
 October 2007
 n/a
 No


 Royal Botanical Gardens Gateway Visitor Centre
 Not held centrally1
 Not held centrally1
 November 2006
 August 2007
 No


 Moray Schools NPD
 March 2004 (original), February 2008 (updated)
 June 2008
 Not held centrally1
 n/a
 Yes


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Schools NPD
 December 2003 (updated), January 2006 (updated)
 June 2006
 Not held centrally1
 n/a
 Yes


 Orkney Islands Schools NPD
 April 2007 (updated), February 2008 (updated)
 n/a
 November 2006
 n/a
 No


 NHS Tayside - Mental Health Development NPD
 May 2006
 August 2007
 May 2006
 n/a
 No


 Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement 
 n/a
 n/a
 Published in 2008 IIP
 n/a
 No


 A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route NPD
 n/a
 n/a
 January 2003 (original)
 n/a
 Yes


 M74 Raith Interchange NPD
 n/a
 n/a
 Published in 2008 IIP
 n/a
 No


 M8 Baillieston to Newhouse NPD
 n/a
 n/a
 Published in 2008 IIP
 n/a
 Yes


 M8 Associated Network Improvements NPD
 n/a
 n/a
 Published in 2008 IIP
 n/a
 No



  n/a = not available yet.

  Notes:

  1. Project details may not be held centrally if a project has been procured by a public sector body other than the Scottish Government.

  2. There was no OBC for this project - it was approved through the Investment Decision Making (IDM) framework which is in place to allow Transport Scotland to make key investment decisions and monitor programmes.

  3. The OBC was undertaken by Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Renfrewshire Council in September 2000. This was prior to Scottish Government becoming a funding partner. Subsequent economic case for the scheme has been reviewed at various key stages following the Scottish Government becoming a funding partner.